2TIM 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2TIM 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2TIM 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2TIM 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2TIM 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2TIM 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2TIM 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2TIM 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.
2TIM 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2TIM 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2TIM 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2TIM 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2TIM 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2TIM 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2TIM 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2TIM 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Why do you assume that Catholic Christians don't do this?
hooray for private interpretation....another bites the dust, unfortunately...
Around the same age (early 20's), I was brought face-to-face with the reality of Christ's sacrifice. It wasn't through some mystical transformation of grape juice, it was through the Spirit reaching into my heart with His convicting power. The Word became flesh, in me. Since then , it hasn't been without pain and suffering of my own. God has a profound way of "gently" prodding and pushing us to that "conforming" stage. Sometimes He whispers in the wind, and others, he brings down a sledge hammer. But through all, He promises "I will never leave you, nor forsake you... " Believe it or not...
He is risen!
I sure wish “Protestant” believers in Jesus had a little more mature understanding of Christianity and How God wants His Church to be. It’s called the Catholic Church. I support my protestant brethren when they oppose abortion and Jesus Himself adviced the apostles to not stop a guy who wasn’t with you because those who are with us are not against us.
But theologically, protestantism is very shallow and this is because the protestant churches had an evil beginning where they turned away from Mary, the Mother of God and they started following their own Jesus.
That’s how I see it. The author of this article sees it another way.
Where do you stand?
Was John Olsteen of the same “prosperity gospel” cloth his son is apparently enrobed in?
Is that the same Joel Olsteen who said on the Larry King show, that he wasn't prepared to say that Jesus was the only way to Heaven?
I was with this author until he brought up the name John Olsteen. Was his theology is anything like his son’s, ie, prosperity gospel and not knowing if Jesus is the only Way, Truth and Life? If so, then we have a problem.
It is very simple really. God gave us the inspired Word - the Bible - for instruction, for learning of God and Jesus.
He also set out the plan for salvation - hear the word, believe, confess that Jesus is the Son of God, repent of your sins, be baptised for the remission of those sins and you will be given the gift of the Holy Spirit and start your walk with God through life - day by day.
Each of us have a walk with Jesus and He intercedes for us with the Father. Let no man come between you and God.
Check the Bible for verification of current teachings, practices, and creeds brought into churches. If it is not in the Bible - it is man created and you then are depending on man to lead you correctly. But, men have egos, failings, greed, a love for power - so the Bible is your resource for verification of what God set in place rather than what man put in place.
Remember, only God is giving salvation - not you, not the pope, not any minister. So always seek God’s will.
You know - that is the major failing of religions - they each develop creeds, rules, regulations, power leaders - but, never forget, God is what we are seeking and God is the only being that can give salvation or create eternity.
So, it does not matter a whit what you or I feel is correct and the way to God - it matters what God told us to do.
Roman Catholicism stands or falls on one passage of Scripture: Matthew 16:13-19.
If you believe this passage establishes papal seccession and transfer of all spiritual authority to Peter,then that would be consistent with Catholic doctrine.
But if you think this passage is taken out of its context in order to centralize spiritual authority, then you might be a Christian.
Read all of Matthew 16 for its context, and compare what it is saying with the rest of Scripture; you would conclude that Jesus is speaking of Himself being the rock and foundation of the church. Particularly when considering “Peter” in verse 18 in the Greek is— a small stone or pebble; and the word “rock” in the same verse means— a massive stone, a foundation, a bedrock. Not that you need to know Greek because the context of the passage is clear-— its all about who Jesus is, and is a test to the disciples if they have grasped it, in contrast to what the rest of society was saying about him.
Similarly, Jesus gives the same authority to all disciples (followers) in Matthew 18:18 and John 20:20-23; which Peter clarified in Acts 10:42-44—> the preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and belief in the same gospel is salvation.
When you become your own pope, anything goes.